Cebu Earthquake
The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu Province on 30 September 2025 resulted in widespread displacement, structural damage, disruption of services, and heightened protection needs among vulnerable populations, particularly in northern Cebu. Affected families sought temporary shelter in evacuation centers and host families, while some remained in partially damaged homes. Several upland, remote, and underserved barangays had limited access to life‑saving services due to terrain, mobility constraints, and weather-related complications.
As of February 2026, a total of 592 families (2,276 persons) remain accommodated in seven evacuation centers (ECs) across Regions VII and VIII, while an additional 2,485 families (9,481 persons) are staying outside evacuation centers, temporarily hosted by relatives or friends. This reflects the continued need for humanitarian support, particularly for those residing in non-camp settings who may have more limited access to services and assistance.
Local Government Units (LGUs), with support from UNHCR, ACCORD, Cebu Caritas, and DSWD FO VII, initiated emergency response activities, including cash-based protection assistance, protection monitoring, and coordination with barangay and municipal LGUs. Despite these efforts, displacement conditions remained fluid, with significant needs in water access, permanent shelter, and protection services.
Emergency Situation Reports:
Protection Issues and Needs
- Displacement-related Protection Risks
- Access to Services and Basic Needs
- Accountability and Community Engagement Gaps
- Policy and Governance Gaps
Humanitarian Response
Cash-Based Interventions (CBI)
CBI served as the core modality for protection response, implemented jointly by UNHCR, partners, and LGUs. More than 2,200 families (approximately 9,000 individuals) received cash assistance, with ACCORD facilitating the distribution of cash for protection to 1,207 families and Cebu Caritas facilitating cash assistance to 1,000 families. Door-to-door distribution ensured the inclusion of persons with reduced mobility or isolated individuals. CBI allowed families to address urgent needs autonomously and with dignity.
Protection Mainstreaming
UNHCR, through its partners, conducted protection mainstreaming workshops for 11 LGUs, integrating principles of safety, dignity, meaningful access, participation, and the “Do No Harm” principle. Protection monitoring included assessment of IDPs’ and affected populations’ access to basic services, identification of gender-based violence (GBV) risks, provision of psychosocial support, and referral to relevant protection services.
Coordination With Government and Stakeholders
Multi-level coordination with MLGUs, BLGUs, and DSWD FO VII strengthened beneficiary validation, distribution processes, and monitoring. NGO coordination helped mitigate duplication of assistance. The involvement of social media vloggers and influencers was mentioned by local communities as one factor that drove attention to their areas, but this remained largely one-way, indicating a need for stronger coordination and accountability mechanisms.
Information Management and Monitoring
Data collection utilized existing DSWD systems, though challenges with outdated data were noted. Post-distribution monitoring, community assemblies, and weekly partner meetings reinforced accountability and feedback loops. Strict adherence to data confidentiality and responsible data handling was maintained.
Durable Solutions and Advocacy
Priority actions from state partners include securing safe resettlement sites, improving water access, and strengthening DRR capacity in affected communities. UNHCR and partners advanced advocacy for the National IDP Bill and local IDP protection ordinances, and committed to sustaining rights-based approaches and PSEA awareness.
Ways Forward
UNHCR has concluded its emergency response activities related to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu. Exit meetings were conducted with the concerned local government units and the DSWD Field Office to discuss the proposed exit strategy, with a focus on ensuring the facilitation of durable solutions for IDPs and their host communities.
With key protection interventions, such as cash-based assistance, protection monitoring, coordination support, and protection mainstreaming, successfully implemented in collaboration with LGUs, DSWD FO VII, ACCORD, Cebu Caritas, and other stakeholders, the operation has transitioned out of active response.
While UNHCR and its partners will no longer maintain a field presence for this emergency response, UNHCR remains available to provide remote technical support through referral and policy advice, as required.
To ensure protection of affected populations, UNHCR recommends continued monitoring by local authorities, enactment and implementation of IDP protection ordinances, prioritization of durable solutions for remaining displaced families, and institutionalization of accountability and community engagement mechanisms to address emerging and residual protection risks.